BAI plans “domestic IBL”

Upbeat after the success of Premier Badminton League, the BAI is planning to take the domestic IBL to six new cities – Gurgaon, Ahmedabad/Surat, Nagpur, Patna, Vijayawada and Jaipur.

Upbeat after the success of Premier Badminton League, the BAI is planning to take the domestic IBL to six new cities.

In a first of its kind, a “domestic Indian Badminton League” is being planned after the Rio Olympics this year.

This inaugural six-city franchisee event, worth Rs. 1 crore, to be played over a fortnight, will only be for Indian players.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Akhilesh Das Gupta said this event would provide platform for 10 players in each team.

Upbeat after the success of Premier Badminton League, the BAI is planning to take the domestic IBL to six new cities – Gurgaon, Ahmedabad/Surat, Nagpur, Patna, Vijayawada and Jaipur.

“Each franchisee will be allowed to spend a maximum of Rs. 50 lakh during the players’ auction,” he said.

“We are in talks with Star Sports to broadcast the new event. Learning from this year’s PBL, tickets will be up for sale well ahead of the event for benefit of the badminton-loving people in these cities,” he added.